Frost's use of nature is the single
most misunderstood element of his poetry. Frost said over and
over, "I am not a nature poet.There is almost
always a person in my poems." "Spring Pools"
and "A Winter Eden" are two rare exceptions to this
rule, although both poems embody the idea of perfection - the
spring pools "almost without defect" and the snow scene
described as "paradise." Nature does not idealize -
that is the work of man, so perhaps there is a person there after
all.

Most of Frost's poems use nature
imagery. His grasp and understanding of natural fact is well
recognized. However Frost is not trying to tell us how nature
works. His poems are about human psychology. Rural scenes and
landscapes, homely farmers, and the natural world are used to
illustrate a psychological struggle with everyday experience
met with courage, will and purpose in the context of Frost's
life and personal psychology. His attitude is stoical, honest
and accepting. Frost uses nature as a background. He usually
begins a poem with an observation of something in nature and
then moves toward a connection to some human situation or concern.Frost is neither a transcendentalist
nor a pantheist.

Robert Frost saw nature as an alien
force capable of destroying man, but he also saw man's struggle
with nature asan heroic battle.
As told in his poem "Our Hold on the Planet",

There is much in nature against us. But we forget:Take nature altogether since time began,Including human nature, in peace and war,And it must be a little more in favor of man,Say a fraction of one percent at the very least,Or our number living wouldn't be steadily more,Our hold on the planet wouldn't have so increased.

Nature is separate and independent
from man. Man "keeps the universe alone," even though
he may call out for "counter love," he will not find
it. Even though he loved natural beauty, Frost recognized the
harsh facts of the natural world. He viewed these opposites as
simply different aspects of reality that could be embraced in
poetry. He accepts these facts with honesty and is remorseless
in his realization of them. He probes the quality of truth and
accepts that there may be no answer.

Frost uses nature as metaphor.
He observes something in nature and says this is like that. He
leads you to make a connection, but never forces it on the reader.
Read on a literal level, Frost's poems always make perfect sense.
His facts are correct, especially in botanical and biological
terms. But he is not trying to tell nature stories nor animal
stories. He is always using these metaphorically implying an
analogy to some human concern. The reader may or may not be reminded
of the same thing that the poet was thinking of when he wrote
the poem, but he hopes the reader is close. Frost is often described
as a parablist. His poetic impulse starts with some psychological
concern and finds its way to a material embodiment which usually
includes a natural scene. Frost always takes time to describe
it with sensitivity and care while using good poetic technique
especially figurative language. Many of his poems are text book
examples of the use of imagery and poetic devices of all kinds.
He was a skilled versifier.

Frost struggled all his life with
a traditional faith-based view of the world and the rise of science.
It is still being argued whether or not he believed in God. Curiously,
people of opposing beliefs can find justification of their views
in Frost because this poet is full of contradictions. Basically
he believed in a ever changing open-ended universe, which could
not be explained with systematic thought, whether it be science,
religion or philosophy. He declared that evolution was simply
a metaphor for a changing world.

He believed the universe was unknowable
and his poems reflect the withheld judgment based on his skepticism.
He declared he was not an agnostic. He said, "I have no
doubts about my beliefs." The contradictions Frost found
in the world did not bother him. He saw no reason to resolve
them but believed that man acting in freedom could balance the
contradictions in a sort of play. He never believed one age was
worse than another. He embraced the Christian doctrine of Acceptance
thinking it unworthy to "play the good without the ill."